At the NY aauto show...

The V-Series version of Caddy's hardtop roadster gets not only the new supercharged Northstar engine, and a 0-60 mph time of less than 5.0 seconds, it also gets the first rear-drive application of GM's new six-speed automatic transmission.

Come on GM lets get it for the C6 also.

|UPDATED|3/23/2005 1:00:01 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________
Curt Franz LeMans Blue Coupe born on Sept 15th, 2005

GM's option list for the 2006 model has option

mx0 transmission, 6 speed auto.

I think GM plans to put the transmission in in the coupe and convertible but it is not an option in the Z06

______________

Unfortunately, the Montana dealer that posted the bit about C6 and 6 speed auto in 2006 has taken it back. The Caddy (XLR not SLT) announcement at least gets it near the Corvette in the Bowling Green plant.

______________
Curt Franz LeMans Blue Coupe born on Sept 15th, 2005

Here is some text from Autoweek. The 6 speed and the car are supposed to appear in the first Quarter of 2006.

Power routes to the rear wheels through a new rear-mounted, six-speed automatic transmission that incorporates some of GM’s best features, such as Performance Algorithm Shifting, which prevents upshifts in high-lateral acceleration maneuvers even if the driver lifts off the accelerator, and Performance Algorithm Liftfoot, which minimizes upshifts during closed-throttle driving and cornering to prevent unnecessary shifting.

______________
Curt Franz LeMans Blue Coupe born on Sept 15th, 2005

Doesn't having a six-gear auto also help save gas at highway speeds?

To answer Adam's question and look at the "why" of a 6 speed auto lets work some numbers:

The various first gear thru top gear ratios are:

4L65E (A4)= {3.06,1.63,1.00,0.70} (4 speed auto)
6L80E (A6)= {4.027,2.364,1.532,1.152,0.852,0.667}(6 speed auto)
T56 (M6) = {2.66,1.78,1.30,1.00,0.74,0.50} (6 speed manual)

Some quick calculations give the following torque multiplication factors for axle ratios times tranny gear ratios. These use the Corvette axle ratios with the known Caddy A6.

2.56*x6L80E = <10.31, 6.05, 3.92, 2.95, 2.18, 1.71> (*expected axle with A6)
2.73*x4L65E = < 8.35, 4.45, 2.73, 1.91> (*current std A4 axle)
3.15*x4L65E = < 9.64, 5.13, 3.15, 2.21> (*current hi perf A4 axle)
3.42*xT56 = < 9.10, 6.09, 4.45, 3.42, 2.53, 1.71> (*current M6 axle)

Comment 1: The last number in each series is the top effective axle ratio. The 1.71 ratio of the 6 speed manual is matched by the 6 speed auto! Yes Adam that should give a better highway EPA rating.

Comment 2: The 10.31 first gear of the A6 might require a very large tire budget.

Comment 3: The A6 appears to give the best of both worlds. These data were first assembled by RK on another board.

|UPDATED|4/8/2005 9:22:27 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


______________
Curt Franz LeMans Blue Coupe born on Sept 15th, 2005